Austria Hold Off Shock Jordan Comeback to Earn Hard-Fought World Cup Victory
Jordan created the first opportunity within two minutes, as a swift counter-attack saw Ehsan Haddad strike the side netting, and their confidence grew after Musa Al-Taamari registered the first shot on target shortly afterwards, though it was a routine save for Alexander Schlager.
The Jordanians defended deep to smother the Austrian threat and catch them on the counter, a tactic that nearly paid off when Odeh Al-Fakhouri unleashed a shot from 25 yards, forcing Schlager to tip the ball over the bar.
However, the debutants' promising start was undone on the 20-minute mark. Xaver Schlager laid the ball back for Romano Schmid, who curled Austria's first real chance straight into the top corner from outside the area.
Al-Nashama came within inches of a perfect response two minutes later, when a corner was played to the near post, but Ali Olwan's header struck the crossbar. Austria exerted more control after the first-half hydration break, but only until Olwan unleashed a powerful shot in the 34th minute. The goalkeeper could only parry it to Al-Taamari, and his follow-up required a vital block from Philipp Lienhart.
The West Asian side were the stronger as half-time approached, but an Al-Taamari effort that went wide in added time was the closest they came to equalising before the interval.
The moment that will forever be etched in Jordanian football history arrived five minutes into the second half. They forced a turnover in their own half, allowing Noor Al-Rawabdeh to set Olwan away down the left wing. He cut into the 18-yard box and sent a clean strike around Schlager, off the post, for his 30th international goal.
Just as their opponents did in the first half, Das Team responded positively to conceding. After half-chances for Stefan Posch and Carney Chukwuemeka, Austria thought they had regained the lead when substitute Marko Arnautovic stabbed home from a corner, only for it to be disallowed after a VAR review for handball by Posch before the ball reached Austria's record scorer.
But Ralf Rangnick's side were not to be denied at their next corner 13 minutes from time. Marcel Sabitzer's delivery caused chaos in the Jordan defence and was turned into his own net by Yazan Al-Arab.
Although Arnautovic failed to increase the winning margin by shooting straight at Yazeed Abulaila when one-on-one, his ball across goal in the 10th minute of added time was handled by Salim Obaid.
Taking the responsibility himself, Arnautovic scored the penalty for his 48th international goal, sealing Austria's first World Cup win since 1990 and joining Argentina on three points in Group J.
Jamal Sellami's side will be grateful not to face another UEFA member in the group, as they are now winless in eight matches against European opposition.